Α.T. 1260. THE KING THREATENS THE ABBOT OE BOUBGH. 379 also between the aforesaid earls and many others. So that the parties being strengthened on both sides, and their strength united, a formidable war seemed near at hand. And at mat time some knights met for a tournament, which was appointed to he held at Blye ; and when it was put off for this reason, they at once, equipped as they were for this tournament with arms and horses, marched to London with several more who joined them. So that, unless the lord Richard, king of Germany, who was at that time staying in England, had earnestly interposed to effect a peace, there would have been no small disturbance ; but as the king's arrival was daily expected, he in this way exhorted both parties to the better course, in order that, when their fury was somewhat abated, the king might find bis kingdom in peace as he had left it. But the king arriving in London on the eve of the apostles Philip and James, remained nearly a fortnight at Saint Paul's, in the house of the bishops of London ; for not only the gates and the streets, but the whole city too was so carefully kept, on account of the deadly war which was excited, that scarcely any one even of the lower class could obtain free ingress or egress, nor did any one of the nobles, except the king and a few others, lodge within the walls, nor would the king go to his own palace at Westminster until he could know to a certainty what would be the result of this discord, the seeds of which were thus sown. But while this dissension was continuing (as evil always succeeds evil in steady succession), the abbot and convent of Bourgh were accused to the lord the king of having lately involved themselves in a heavy debt for the sake of the lord Edward bis son, for the augmentation of his strength against him, and subduing bis father's power. At which the king was indignant and enraged, and sent for the abbot, and with earnest command demanded of him that he would take upon himself a similar charge for his sake, otherwise he warned him that he would incur bis royal indignation. And when the abbot had answered plainly that he could by no means venture to do this, and that his house was unequal to such a burden, adding, too, that for what he had done on behalf of prince Edward he had sufficient security, and that no injury had been done to the king by his conduct, although he had previously been an especial friend of the king, he was now dismissed with great indignation on the king's part, and in great alarm : for the king threatened his